The Taser is going Wireless!

[Joanne98]

Consisting of stackable arrays of six “darts,” Taser’s Shockwave technology — which will likely go to market next year — will be used for military applications, says a company spokesperson, “not for a riot in Toronto.”

Alarmed by recent incidents? Wait'll you see what the company is planning for 2008

Dec 02, 2007 04:30 AM
Andrew Chung
Staff Reporter
TheStar.com


The Taser is going wireless.

Until now, the electric-shock gun consisted of two barbed darts attached to wires that shoot out and strike the victim, immobilizing the person with 50,000 volts of electricity, causing severe pain and intense muscle contraction.

But the wires could only extend a few metres. With the new "extended range electronic projectile," or XREP, the Taser has been turned into a kind of self-contained shotgun shell and can be fired, wire-free, from a standard shotgun, which police typically have in their arsenal already.

The first electrode hooks on to the target, the second electrode falls and makes contact elsewhere on the body, completing the circuit and activating the shock. It can blast someone as far as 30 metres away, and, unlike the current stun guns, whose shock lasts five seconds, the XREP lasts 20 seconds, enough time to "take the offender into custody without risking injury to officers."

Taser International spokesperson Steve Tuttle says the XREP would be perfect in a standoff. "Here's someone you just don't want to get anywhere near," he says.

The XREP is one of two major new applications the Scottsdale, Ariz., company is preparing to field test, a prospect that makes Taser's critics anxious. They say more study is needed of the old products, let alone the new.

Tasers are sparking all sorts of questions and concerns these days.

Like death after Tasing. Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski died after the RCMP Tased him when he'd become agitated after spending 10 hours inside the secure area at the Vancouver airport.

Or questionable Tasing. University of Florida student Andrew Meyer was Tased even though a handful of officers had already piled on top of him after he refused to stop asking former presidential candidate John Kerry questions at the microphone. (He's the one who uttered that now infamous plea that has spawned bumper stickers and T-shirts: "Don't Tase me, bro!")

Tasers are now used by more than 11,000 law enforcement agencies in 44 countries. There are more than 428,000 Tasers in the field, not to mention the tens of thousands of Tasers that have been sold to civilians.

And the innovations keep coming.

Besides the XREP, the company has developed a device meant to keep someone from approaching a certain area – a tactic called "area denial." "What if you could drop everyone in a given area to the ground with the simple push of a button?" asks a dramatic promotional video for the "Shockwave."

Taser has turned its weapon into a connected series of six darts arranged in an arc. The company says the device can be extended in a chain or stacked "like Lego," depending on the needs of the user.

So an army platoon, for instance, could use it to prevent unwanted people from approaching their camp, and not have to risk getting close to their targets.

Amnesty International, which has raised concerns for years, says the Shockwave poses serious risks of inappropriate use. When you target an entire area, or a crowd, you can't distinguish between the individuals you're trying to restrain, says Hilary Homes, a security and human rights campaigner for Amnesty International Canada.

"It targets everybody to the same intensity or effect," Homes says. "With materials like that, you worry about ...arbitrary and indiscriminate use."

Tuttle says the technology will be used for military applications, "not for a riot in Toronto."

Amnesty says that between 2001 and Sept. 30, 2007, there were more than 290 deaths of individuals struck by police Tasers in North America, including 16 in Canada. It reports that only 25 of those electroshocked were armed, and none with firearms. It's calling for a moratorium on their use by police until a full, independent inquiry is held.
Continued>>>>>>>>>
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7536





:nuke:

I wonder what Naomi Klein will say about this. A taser for countries?

[Bluebear]

1. 'for military applications, says a company spokesperson, “not for a riot in Toronto.” RIIIIGHT

[Richard Steele]

3. Because military hardware NEVER ends up in the hands of street cops!

[kurth]

2. A gentler kinder M18A1 Claymore

[file83]

8. !!!

:rofl:

[Mythsaje]

4. Well, I knew THIS was coming.

Just a matter of when.

[rurallib]

5. the Popeil Pocket Electric Chair (tm)

Stole it from some other thread, but it fits so well.

[peace13]

6. 'the XREP lasts 20 seconds, enough time

to "take the offender into custody without risking injury to'. Ya right ...I hate to say it but these cops that we have been watching with the hairy trigger fingers couldn't do anything in 20 seconds. That is just enough time to fire off a second shot. I have lost all respect for law enforcers who use tasers. Peace, Kim

[BushOut06]

7. Not a riot in Toronto - but perhaps DC

Or San Francisco, New York, Chicago, or anywhere else it's needed to fend off a bunch of dirty leftist commie bastards. :sarcasm:

[Truth2Tell]

9. Maybe they'll use these in conjunction with these:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2364583

I weep for the future.

[Joanne98]

10. ..........

[Joanne98]

11. kick

[DemGa]

12. Don't worry, the Citizens "Protection" Model will soon be on its way...nt